We are so glad that you reached out.

One day last week out of the blue my back decided to give me some trouble. So much so that it was very hard for me to walk. I put a plan in place to take care of what my body was telling me. I took some medicine, called my massage therapist, did some yoga postures, iced my back, and got some rest. All of these things were necessary to get me feeling better and on my feet again. I listened to what my body was telling me and I reacted with kindness, care, and love.

To the uninitiated, many of the things said about eating disorder treatment can be confusing. “Insiders” (staff and established patients) use words and phrases that may be unfamiliar. Whether you are a first-time patient, a family member, friend, or outside provider, “learning the lingo” can go a long way in demystifying the treatment process. Here is an introduction to some of the most common terms you may encounter.

During the first week of treatment, she had temper tantrums, like a three year old, rambling on about the most irrational statements, misquoting her doctor to suit her eating disorder’s agenda. At one point, she put her fingers down her throat in an attempt to purge her snack before we drove to treatment. This was devastating to me and my husband because she used to purge when her eating disorder began, but I could safely say before treatment she hadn't purged for months.